Life preserver



P. J. ZANNONI LIFE PRESERVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1965 July11, 1967 P. .1. ZANNONI 3,

LIFE PRESERVER Filed June 15, 1965 S Sheets-Sheet 2 P. J. ZANNONI LIFEPRESERVER July 11, 1967 Shag-Sheet 3 Filed June 15. 1965 United StatesPatent 3,329,982 LIFE PRESERVER Peter J. Zannoni, Grantsville, W. Va.,assignor to Rubber Fabricators, Inc, Grantsville, W. Va., a corporationof West Virginia Filed June 15, 1965, Ser. No. 464,030 6 Claims. (Cl.9-338) This invention relates generally to life preservers and moreparticularly to an improved construction for a vest-type life preserver.

Conventional life preserver vests usually include a buoyant sectionadapted to be secured by an adjustable harness to the body of thewearer. The buoyant section is made up of at least two yoke-shapedseparately inflatable cells, each cell being provided with an arcuateportion adapted to fit around the back of the wearers neck, and two legmembers integral with the arcuate portion. The leg members fit snuglyaround the remainder of the wearers neck and then extend downwardly fora limited distance to overlie the wearers chest. The cells are arrangedin a superimposed relationship and are joined together at selectedpoints along their inner and outer edges, thus providing the buoyantsection with a unitized construction. Once inflated: the buoyant cellsmaintain the wearers body in a generally vertical position in the waterwith the wearers .head supported well above the surface. This basicarrangement for life preserver vests is disclosed in a number of priorart patents, as for example US. Patent Nos. 2,621,342 and 3,002,203.

Although the above-described conventional life preserver constructionshave proved generally satisfactory, experience now indicates that theyall embody an undesirable feature which causes substantial discomfort tothe wearer during extended periods of use. To explain, since the cellsusually assume either a circular or oval cross section when fullyexpanded, interconnection of superimposed deflated cells along theirinner or outer edges will naturally result in the cells coming intocontact with one another during inflation. This mutual contact restrainsnormal cell expansion and causes the cells to distort and twist aboutthe points of interconnection during inflation. In some instances, thistwisting action may be desirable. For example, by interconnecting theleg members of the upper and lower cells along their inner edges, arestraining action is exerted upon inflation which causes the legmembers to twist inwardly towards the center of the jacket. Thus, theleg members of the upper cell will come together on either side of thewearers head, holding it out of the water in a vertical position eventhough the wearer may be unconscious.

However, in contrast to the above-described benefit gained by causingthe leg members to twist inwardly, any distortion of the cells caused byinterconnection at their edges in the area behind the wearers neck willresuit in a force being exerted against the back of the wearers head.Experience has shown that a prolonged force of this type will causeserious discomfort to the wearer. This problem has not been solved bythe prior art constructions, all of which rely on means forinterconnecting the cells at their edges at points immediately to therear of the wearers neck.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to connect thearcuate portions of the upper and lower inflatable cells behind thewearers neck in a way which will permit free expansion thereof duringinflation of the life preserver. In this manner, distortion of the cellsat points adjacent the rear of the wearers neck will be avoided and aconsiderable source of discomfort obviated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forinterconnecting the arcuate portions of the .flange extending around theupper and lower cells in a manner which will permit the superimposedrelationship thereof to remain undisturbed during inflation of the lifepreserver.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved meansfor interconnecting the arcuate portions of the upper and lowerinflatable cells, which means will allow a space to exist between thecells when they are fully inflated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple andeconomical means of interconnecting the arcuate portions of the upperand lower inflatable cells.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forinterconnecting the arcuate portions of upper and lower inflatable cellsat points intermediate the inner and outer edges thereof, thuspermitting unrestricted expansion of said arcuate portions duringinflation of the life preserver.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view with portions broken away of a lifepreserver vest incorporating the novel features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the inflated life preserver vestapplied to a person in the water;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the life preserver vest in an inflatedcondition taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the ability of theintermediate web member to compensate for horizontal displacement of oneinflatable cell relative to the other;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternateembodiment of the invention wherein the intermediate web member isconnected directly to the opposed surfaces of the upper and lowerinflatable cells;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another alternateembodiment of the invention wherein the upper.

harness strap is attached directly to the intermediate web member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing still anotheralternate embodiment of the invention wherein the upper harness strap issecured between adjacent surfaces of the upper and lower cells; and,

FIGS. 8a and 8b are diagrammatic sectional views of a reduced scaletaken through the leg members showing the relative positions of the legmembers before and after inflation.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vest type life preservergenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10 is comprised basicallyof a buoyant section A having a harness assembly B associated therewith.The buoyant section A includes upper and lower yoke shaped cells 12 and14, each preferably constructed of matching sheets 16a and 16b (see FIG.3) of impervious material such as rubberized nylon. The sheets arejoined at their inner and outer edges as at 18 and 20 to provide acontinuous periphery of the cell.

The cells 12 and 14 are each shaped to provide an arcuate portion 22having integrally fabricated leg members 24a and 24b extending in agenerally parallel relationship therefrom. The leg members 24 cooperatewith arcuate portion 22 to define a central open-ing 26 of suflicientdiameter to accept the head of a wearer when the life preserver is in adeflated condition.

Both upper and lower cells 12 and 14 are separately inflated by means ofcompressed gas cylinders 28a and 28b contained in suitably shapedpockets 30. The cylinders are provided with valves 32 capable of beingactuated by pulling lanyards 34 to release gas directly into theinterior of the cells. An alternate means of inflating the cells isprovided by flexible tubes 36a and 36b, each of which is provided at itsouter end with a one-way valve 38. Thus, should the compressed gascylinders fail to inflate the cells or, should the cells require furtherinflation following exhaustion of the gas supply in the cylinders, auser may orally inflate the life preserver by making use of tubes 36aand 36b.

As can be further seen in FIG. 1, harness B is comprised basically of abody engaging strap 40, the ends of which extend through buckles 41connected to an intermediate strap section 42. Pull-tabs 44 areconnected to the ends of body strap 40, thus providing the wearer with ameans of adjusting the effective length of body strap 40 by simplypulling on the tabs 44.

A lower connecting strap 46 is looped at one end around intermediatestrap section 42 and connected at the other end to the leg members 24aand 24b of both upper and lower cells 12 and 14. As can be seen in FIG.8a, prior to inflation of the cells, the superimposed leg members 24aand 24b will lie in two substantially parallel planes. However,inflation of the cells will cause the leg members to expand and comeinto contact with each other at their points of maximum thickness as at48. As shown in FIG. 8b, this mutual contact between upper and lower legmembers together with the restraining action being exerted by the lowerconnecting strap 46 which is connected to'the inner cell edges 18, willcause the leg members 24a and 24b of upper cell 12 to twist inwardly andupwardly towards the center of the life preserver. As can be partiallyseen in FIG. 2, this upward twisting of theleg members on the upper cellis advantageous in that it brings the leg members into contact with thesides of the wearers face, thus keeping his head vertical and liftedeven though 'he becomes unconscious. It can therefore be seen that lowerconnecting strap 46 serves the dual function of connecting harness B tobuoyant section A while at the same time providing a means ofpermanently interconnecting the inner edges 18 of both pairs of legmembers 24a and 24b.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 2-7, a second point of interconnection isprovided between the arcuate portions 22 of upper and lower cells 12 and14 in an area somewhat to the rear of central opening 26. In FIGS. 2,

3 and 4, this second point of connection is effected by use of anintermediate web member 50. The web member is attached at its upper endas at 52 (see FIG. 3) to the lower surface of cell 12 at a pointapproximately midway between the inner and outer edges 18 and 20thereof. The lower end of web 59 is similarly attached as at 53 to theupper surface of a wide flexible band 54, the latter being permanentlysecured to the upper surface of cell 14. Band 14 extends downwardly overthe outer edge 20 of cell 14 to terminate in a seam 56 through which thebody engaging strap 40 of harness B is passed. Since flexible band 54 ispermanently joined to the upper surface of cell 14, it can be seen thatthe lower end of intermediate web 50 is in effect also connected to thelower cell 14 at a point approximately midway the inner and outer edges18 and 20 thereof. Alternate examples of similar means forinterconnecting the arcuate portions 22 of upper and lower cells 12 and14 are illustrated in FIGS. -7. In FIG. 5, the lower end of Web member51 is connected as at 58 directly to the upper surface of lower cell 14.In, this embodiment, the flexible band 54 has been joined to the uppersurface of cell 14 at a joint to the rear of web 50. In FIG. 6, flexibleband 54 is joined directly to intermediate web member 50, the latteragain being connected at both ends to the opposed surfaces of upper andlower cells 12 and 14 at 'points intermediate the inner and outer edges18 and 20 thereof. In FIG. 7, the intermediate web member 50 has beenomitted and the opposed surface of upper and lower cells 12 and 14joined directly to the upper and lower surfaces of flexible band 54 withthe points of connection between the cells and band 54 again beingapproximately midway between the inner and outer peripheral edges 18 and20.

feature resides in the fact that by interconnecting the cells in thismanner, their subsequent expansion in this area during inflation istotally unrestricted. Thus, in contrast to leg members 24a and 24b, thearcuate portion 22 of upper cell 12 to the rear of central opening 26will not be twisted or distorted during inflation of the life preserver.Consequently, undue pressure will not be exerted on the head of thewearer.

Under certain conditions, where the design of the life preserver is suchthat upon inflation, the upper and lower cells will undergo somerelative horizontal shifting, the use of a web member 50 may bedesirable in order to provide a means of accommodating this relativehorizontal movement. As shown in FIG. 4, the web member will permitslight horizontal movement of one cell relative to the other while atthe same time maintaining an adequate holding action therebetween.However, where the design of the life preserver is such that movement ofthis type is not encountered, the cells may. be joined togetherdirectly, or in the alternative, to either 1. A life saver vestcomprising the combination of: 7

two superimposed yoke-shaped inflatable cells, each said cells having anarcuate section adapted to surround the back of a wearers neck with twogenerally parallel integral leg members extending from said arcuatesection to overlie the wearers chest; a first connecting means forpermanently joining the adjacent inner edges of said leg memberstogether; a second connecting means for joining the arcuate sections ofsaid cells in a manner permitting the free expansion-thereof duringinflation, said second connecting means including a flexible web memberattached at opposite ends to adjacent opposed sur-' faces of each saidarcuate sections at points intermediate the inner and outer edgesthereof; means for separately inflating each said cells; and harnessmeans for attaching said interconnected cells to a wearers body.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said harness means isconnected at one end to said web memher and at the other end to theinner joined edges of said leg members.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web member is of alength sufficient to permit the opposed adjacent surfaces of saidarcuate sections to assume a spaced relationship when said cells are in-'4. A life saver vest comprising the combination of;

two superimposed yoke-shaped inflatable cells, each said cells having anarcuate section adapted to surround the a back of a wearers neck withtwo generally parallel in-' arcuate sections to provide a point ofinterconnection intermediate the inner and outer edges thereof, wherebyupon inflation of said cells, the arcuate section will expand freelywithout twisting relative to each other while the expansion of the legmembers is restrained at the inner edges by the holding action exertedby said lower strap.

5. 'In a life preserver of the type provided with at least twosuperimposed inflatable cells, each said cells having a pair ofgenerally parallel leg members joined at one end by an integrallyfabricated intermediate arcuate section, the arcuate sections and legmembers of said superimposed cells cooperating to define a neckreceiving opening, means for joining said cells in a manner which willpermit the superimposed relationship of said arcuate sections at therear of said neck receiving opening to expand without twisting relativeto each other, said means comprising at least one Web member connectingthe adjacent opposed surfaces of said arcuate sections, the ends of saidweb member being attached to said surfaces at points intermediate theinner and outer edges thereof.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said web member is ofsufiicient length to allow the adjacent surfaces of said arc-uatesections to assume a spaced relationship When said cells are inflated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,823 5/1919 Marcovsky 9340 X2,621,342 12/1952 Boyle 9-338 3,022,203 10/1961 Moran 9-338 3,117,326l/1964 Bernhardt 9333 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

15 T. W. BUCK-MAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LIFE SAVER VEST COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF: TWO SUPERIMPOSEDYOKE-SHAPED INFLATABLE CELLS, EACH SAID CELLS HAVING AN ARCUATE SECTIONADAPTED TO SURROUND THE BACK OF A WEARER''S WEARER''S NECK WITH TWOGENERALLY PARALLEL INTEGRAL LEG MEMBERS EXTENDING FROM SAID ARCUATESECTION TO OVERLIE THE WEARER''S CHEST; A FURST CONNECTING MEANS FORPERMANENTLY JOINING THE ADJACENT INNER EDGES OF SAID LEG MEMBERSTOGETHER; A SECOND CONNECTING MEANS FOR JOINING THE ARCUATE SECTIONS OFSAID CELLS IN A MANNER PERMITTING THE FREE EXPANSION THEREOF DURINGINFLATION, SAID SECOND CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE WEB MEMBERATTACHED AT OPPOSITE ENDS TO ADJACENT OPPOSED SURFACES OF EACH SAIDARCUATE SECTIONS AT POINTS INTERMEDIATE THE INNER AND OUTER EDGETHEREOF; MEANS FOR SEPARATELY INFLATING EACH SAID CELLS; AND HARNESSMEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID INTERCONNECTED CELLS TO A WEARER''S BODY.